THE CHESS CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 154, 28 December 1925, Page 8

THE CHESS CONGRESS

FIRST ROUND EESULTS.

(IX miORAn." PIISI ASSOCIATION.) DTJNEDIN, This Day. The New Zealand Chess Congress opened on Saturday afternoon. The players have been divided as follow: Section A: Miller (Westport), Dunlop (Otago), Moir . (Auckland), Severne (Nelson), Barnes (Wellington), Crakanthorp (Sydney), Gylc3 (Wellington), E. E. Hicks (Ngaio), Fenwick (Hamilton). Section B: Purdy (New South Wales), Anderson, Fairbairn, Kelling, and E. A. Hicks (Wellington), Davies and Stenhouse (Otago), Erskine (Victoria), Pihl (Christchurch). FIRST ROUND PLAY. Miller v. Crakanthorp: The Sydney representative drew first blood by defeating Miller in thirteen moves in a Queen's Pawn game. Dunlop v. Gyles: This was a Vienna game, which resulted in a fierce struggle, Gyles winning on the fifty-ninth move. Moir v. E, E. Hicks: Queen's Gambit declined. Hicks got into a very cramped game, and resigned on the thirtieth move. Severne' v. Fenwick:: This was a French defence, on irregular lines, and was won by Fenwick after a long struggle. Barnes had a bye in Section A and Davies a bye in Section B. Purdy v. Pihl: A Two Knights defence, in which Pihl lowered the colours of last year's champion in a well-played game. Anderson v. E. A. Hicks: French defence. This game resulted in a keen struggle, and was won by Anderson. Kelling v. Stenhouse: Euy Lopez opening. Kelling gained the superior game, and won in thirty-four moves. Fairburn v. Erskine: A Queen's Gambit declined, which was won easily by the Victorian player. It was decided by a majority of the competitors that the four top players in each section shall combine in the final section, and play off for the championship. The draw for round two, which commenced this morning, is as under, the first-named player in each case having the white pieces:—Section A: Dunlop v. Moir, Crakanthorp a bye, Moir v. Gyles, E. E. Hicks v. Severne, Barnes v. Fenwick. Section B: Anderson v. Purdy, Pihl a bye, Kelling v. E. A. Hicks, Stenhouse v. Fairburn,, Davies v. Erskine.